Glass-working machinery.



A. LA FRANCE.

GLASS WORKING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZZ, 1912.

Emma Dec. 28, 1915 9 SHEETS SHEET I.

A LA FRANCE.

GLASS WORKING MACHINERY;

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, I912 1,165,884. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

9 SHEETSSHEEY 2.

.4/11504535355- fm WW A. LA FRANCE GLASS WORKING MACHINERY. I APPLiCATION FILED JUNE 22. 1912. mg Patented De0.28,1910.

'9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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ALFRED LA H-YANCE,

ArroRuny.

M Kan 1794 Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

A. LA FRANCE.

GLASS WORKING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, I912.

Patent-ed Dec. 28, 1915.

9 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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A. LA FRANCE.

GLASS WORKING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED Junk 22, 1912.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I Jzzzrezzzar. 4117- 55 Ls Fez-15E,

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

A. LA FRANCE GLASS WORKING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1912.

1,165,884. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

A. LA FRANCE.

GLASS WORKING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE 22. m2.

1,165,884. Patented Dec. 28, 191.5,

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8 filgila h [48. my

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v A LA FRANCE. GLASS WORKING MACHINERY.

q APPLICATION HLED JUNE 22, 1912. I 155,884- Patented 1m 28, 1910.

@ QHEETS-SHEET 9.

Wzw55 5 (Alm 0A ED dtlfATtifi @TENT @FFIGL.

ALFRED LA FRANCE. OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE lfiLAND, -ASSIGNOB. TO GENERAK ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEN YORK.

GLl'ASS-W'ORKING MACHINERY.

Patented Dec. 1915.

1 165,584 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 22, 1912. Serial :10. 705,201.

To all whom/1t may concern:

Be it. known that l. ALFRED LA FRANCE, a citizen of the United States. residing at Central Falls, county of Providence. State of Rhode'lsland. have invented certain new and useful Inn'n'ovements in Glass-llorking lllachinery. of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the working of glass and the like and to the formation of enlargements or buttons on rods or tubes of glass and other materials.

()ne of the principal objects of my inven- 'tion is to make possible. the production of such buttons in a practical, convenient. and cheap at. and upon a conunercial scale; but various other advantages obtainable throug'l'i my invention will lwreinat'ter become apparent.

Mr invention comprises mechanism adapt ed for the working oFglass which is capable of automatic operation in an ellicient and economical manner.

1 have hereinafter described an automatic glass working machine with particular reference to its employment in the production of short solid glass rods carrying a number of suitably spaced buttons. such as are employed for the filament supportingframes or spiders of commercial types ot metal lllament incandescent lamps. While. how ever. the particular mechanism shown aud described represents the best embodiment of the invention at present known to me. and while the invention extends to many of its specific features and details. which are of importaiu-c because of their specific advantages. vet the invention is not conlined to this uiachine and its dclails. but can be otherwise carried out and applied. and can be embodied in other forms ol mechanism comprising various features of operation and construction. combination and arrangements ot parts. and special devices and mechanisms such as are covered by my claims.

In the accom mnyiug drawings. Figure 1 is a general view of the machine in elevation Fig. 2 is a similar view from the right oi' Fig. l: and Fig. I) is a general plan view. Fig. l is a vertical section at a plane corresponding to the line ll in Fitz. 3: and Fig. 5 is a vertical section at a plane corresponding to the line 55 in Fig 3. the principal parts of the machine being removed from the table or stand on"which they are mounted and certain away and omitted. fragmentary views section on a plane (3-4? in Fig. 1, these figures showing successive positions of the same part; during the operation of the machine and being upon a somewhat larger scale than the other views. Fig. 9 is a view looking upward from a plane of section corresponding to the line 5)--9 in Fig. l, cer ain parts being omitted: and Fig. 10 is a view looking; clownward at a plane. of section corresponding to the line 1tl-l0 in Fig. t. Fig. 1]. is a plan view with the parts in section at a plane corresponding to the line 11-11 o l Fig. 4, the moving parts being omitted; Fig. 12,115; an elevation showing the parts whichappear in Fig. 11. the base or bed on which the machine is mounted being partly broken away; and Fig. 13 is a view from beneath, showing parts of the machine, some of which appear in section in Fig. 5, certain parts being broken away in order that others maybe more clearly visible. Fig. 14 is. a view looking; downward from a plane of section corresponding to the line 1-1-14: in Fig. l: and Fig. 17 is a similar view on a. plane cm'responding' to the line 1515.

Figs. (3 7, 11 118 are 1th certain parts in rmconvenience 1 shall hereinafter use the simple. term Tod as equal!) applicable both to a solid, rod and to a hollow rod or tube.

The maclnne shown isadapted to receive parts being broken.

corresponding to the line i T will first describe the action of the maand operate upon long glass rods and to produce and deliver a number of complete" spider rods ot the desired length from each rod received; but it is also capable of operating upoxtrods ot the exact length required to make a spider rod,in which case the operations by which portions of the proper length are detached from the long rods will naturally be dispensed with. As

, will bemiderstoodfrom Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4., and

buttons 6 by longitudinal pressure on the 5, and hereinafter more-clearly and fully set forth, each rod 1 o erated upon is fed' lengthwisethrough hol ing means-2 adapt ed'to close and ip it. tightly or 'to open and release it. he rod is heated'adjacent theholding means 2 so as to soften, it, and while itis tightly held by the holding means 2 longitudinal pressure is enerted "uponit so as to swell it out ,or' expand it where heated. 'The means byrelative movement a between which and the holding means such longitudinal pressure is exerted upon the rod may beeit'her an additional holding means'3 gripping it upon the opposite side of an intermediateheated portion from the holding means alread mentioned or "a part 4pressed'against the eated end of the rod.

.A pertion 5 of. the rodincluding'one or more. of -the button-like enlargements 1 6 thus -formedmay be detached jfrom the rest of the'rod (if a length of rod more than sulfi- ','cient' for, the production of a single completedspider'rod 5 isbein operated upon) afterthe formation of the utton's, and may be dischargedrfrom'the holding means 2 by the opening ofthe device which has gripped such portion 5 wide enough to allow it to 1 out sidewise. Any number of buttonike enlargements 6 can befsqueezed in the "rod b the employment of a suitable mumber "o properly? actuated holding means 'or devices; I hereinafter describe the machine agiipped-with two such holding devices 1 against the end of t 3'and'also a part IE-adapted to press e rod, so thatfthe machine-is ada ted for theproduction of spider wit two buttons.

. As willfurther be seen-from Figs; 1,2, 3,

and-b aplurality ef'long glass rods 1 may be operated upon"'together, and they maybe fed downward through guides '7 v carried on a partor structure 8. The heatingof .the rods may-be effected-by a set of heating devices 9, the structure 8 and these devices being arranged so 'as .to be capable of rotation with reference to one another so lthatthesrods 1 shall successively be exposed to the .heat,. The'valrious operations afponthe rods l maybe effected by holding 'means2and.3a.;1d parts 4 provided (in-the structure 8 for each rod and by other means associated withthe structure 8, and also by other parts or mechanisms besides the heating devices} between which and the structure 8 there is relativerotation). The revolving means may (as far; as necessary) be brought into action by stationary means,

.and vice-verse.

In the operation of the machine showm. the structure 8 revolves and carr1es each rod 1 a number of times through a cycle of operation comprising the." downward feed- 1 ing of the rod, local heating thereof where the buttons or enlargements 6 are to be formed, formation of the enlargements orrod where heated, and cutting or breaking off of the portionb' of the rod in which the buttons are formed, the detachment of this portion of the rod taking place, as shown,

after. the formation of the buttonsland the other operations .also taking place in the order in' which they are here mentioned.-

which may be placed trays or other receptacles for the shaped spider rods. As

the rods 1 are used up, fresh ones will be inserted in the upper ends of the tubular guides 7, so that the woi'king of the man chine may go on without interruption.

The general downward feed of each rod 1 takes placeperiodically after the lower portion 5 of the rod bn which the buttons 6 have been formed has been detached and allowed to drop into the trough 10, and

may be produced by gravity alone. As will be seen from, Figs. '3, 14,15, and others,

'th'ere is-a, part 13 mounted on an arm 14 wertically adjustable onan upright rod 15. Afterthe' cutting operation, the rotation of the'pa'rt or structure '3 carries the lower end been held and kept from dropping'releases of the rod 1 (from/which the portion 5with it (Fig. 9) and allows it to fell upon the p springy sheet metal part 13, this taking place about as the rod is passing through thepositionshown at the right of Fig. 2 and marked f I in thewarious views. While the pdrtion of the part I?) on which the rod 1 first drops is metre of less nearly horizontal, the left hand portion on to which it travels asthe structure 8 revolves beyond -the position I slopes downward, so that the 5 rod 1 gradually feeds farther and farther downward till it travels oil the incline, whereupon. it drops freely through the open holding means 2 beneath the holding -mcens'3 on to the part dbeneuththem both.

By the "time this part 4 has been "chrried by the revolution of the structure-8 into about the position II at the left of Figs. 1, 3, 5,

1+1, 15 and others, it has itself descended from the osition which it occupied when the rod 1 roppedon to it. The downward movement of the rod 1 during this descent of the part 1 brings the rod 1 to the position shown at II in these figures and completes falling oi moving too far outward by the the feed of the rod for that cycle of opermessed machine at this time and the lower end of the rod above it will drop down into its place.

As the rod 1 travels with the part 8 from the position H to the position lllf. the holding means 2 already mentioned closes upon it and grips it below the point where the upper button 6 is to be formed, and the holding means 3 above the holding means also closes and grips the rod above this point (see Figs. 4, lei-and 15), and the part i upon which its lower end (where the other button 6 is to be formed) has been resting recedes downward from beneath the lower end so as to leave this end freely exposed. The portions of the rod 1 where the bi'ittons 6 are to be formed may after this readily be heated; and yet the rod is s ill. so held that there is no danger of its becoming distorted. ativcly stationary heating devices- 9 already mentioned, the part 8 being arrested for a suitable period with the rod 1 in the position III while the heating is going on, if

(as in the "present instance 13 supposed to be the case) its rate rotation is rapid as to require this.

" ll be seen from Figs. 1 i2. 3, and g devices or burners 9 are mounted roups and 21, and the flames from lug devices of the up 3c; group 20 on the portion of a rod 1 between the ton is to be formed and the flames from the heating devices of the group '21 play upon the lower end the rod below the holding means E3 where the lower button is-to be formed,therc being a refractory shield part mountel'l on the structure 8 behind the lower end of the rod to receive the heat of the tlames. As will also be seen from F 1 3. and +l, the two groups oi heating devt s 20 and 21 are mounted on brackets am which a re vertically and relatively adustaole on an upright supporting means so that the rod 1 may be heated in just the right spots for any desired spacing and size of the buttons To insure thorough, gradual, ant. even heating of the rod, provision may be made hereinafter described) for giving the supporting means and the heating devices 9 carried by it a swinging movement back and forth w th reference to the rod 1 and also an up and down movement. OI" course during the dwell of the rod 1 under consideration in the position ill the other three rods 1 wil o Halted (in the positions 1 H, and IV r ere .ootore and lu-u-eina't'ter f't'CSS of the rods referred to) so that the ply.

The heating effected by the reldevices 2 and 3 where the upper butis intermittent and proceeds by a succession of quarter-turn steps.

When a rod 1 has remained in the position 111 long enough for the portions where the buttons are to be formed to become properly heated, the structure 8 resumes its movement and carries the rod around toward the position IV. During this movement the squeezing of the buttons (3 occurs. This, as shown, is cllccted by upward movement of the part 1 against the lower end of the rod to squeeze or form the lower button 6 and downward movement of the upper holding means 3 to squeeze the upper button 6, the holding means 2 remaining stationary. The formation of the buttons 6 on the rod 1 will thus have been completed by the time the rod reaches the position IV (see Fig. l), and itwill only remain to cut oii a portion of the rod comprising the buttons so that at the proper time it may be delivered. or drop into the trough 10. Prior to the severance of the rod the part 4 will preferably recede downward somewhat from the highest position to which it rises in the squeezing of the lower button, and the lower holding means 2 which grips the portion of the rod between the buttons 6 will release the rod and open wide enoughto allow the rod to pass laterally out of it: as shown, both these events happen by the time the rod reaches the position IV.

The severance may lulvantageously be etfected during the travel ofthe rod from the position IV around to the position I by relatively stationary cutting means (l igs. 2, 3 6, T and S) suitably located in the path of the rod. As the cutting means shown acts by scratching and breaking, a nozzle 31 is mounted on a bracket adjustably clamped on a supporting member or stand ard 33 so that at the position IV the part of the rod 1 above the upper button 6 where it is to be cut, will be chilled by ajet of air or the like directed on it from this nozzle suiticicntly to make it hard enough for scratching and breaking. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, ('5 7, and S, the scratching means comprises a sharp edged wheel 3-1 mounted on the end of a plunger or rod 35 which slides in a barrel or bore in a bracket 36 and is urged outward by a helical spring 37. A screw 38 at the rear end of the bore serves as an adjustable abutment by which 0 the force with which the plung 35 is urged outward may be regulated'aml a pin 35) in the outer end of the bracket 36 extending through an elon gated hole in the plunger 35 limits the outward movement of the plunger under the influence of the spring 37 and also allows the wheel 3% to be forced back by the glass rod 1 so that it shall passover an arc of the circumference of the rod and not merely- As the rod leaves the position IV (Fig. 13}

andppproziches the wheel 34, a part 41 having a curved outer. edge whose radial distance from the pivot '42 gradually increases from the front corner 43 to the rear corner 44 (see also Fig 5-), is allowed to-swing around behind it under the action of a spring 45. (The influence of thisopring 45 is ordinarily resisted so that the part 41 remains in the position indicated at the right of Fig. 5, where it is out of the way.) This part 41 engages the rod 1 just oppositethe wheel so as to sustain and steady itaa it passes the wheel better than the holding means 3 (which is still closed) could alone do, and thus insure that it shall be properly acratched by the wheel 3% (Fig. 7) without breakage in the wrong place After the glass rod has thus been scratched, the breaking means comes into action to give it a sharp blow and break it off. As siliown, the breaking means comprises a spring actuated arm pivoted on an arm 51 01 the bracket 36. In the revolution of the structure 8 after the scratehin means has acted, a part 52cmried by tie structure 8 engages a pin 53 on the arm 50, thus forcing the arm- 50 back against the resistance of its spring 54in the outermost position shown in Fig. 8. Immediately after this the end of the part 52 trips past the pin 53, which allows the arm 50 to swing back under the action of its spring 5% so that its relatively heavy outer end shall. deliver a sharpblo'w against the glass rod 1 just beneath the scratch made by the roller 34 (the part 41 still beingin contact with the rod), which will break it off. After delivering this blow the arm 50 will come 'to rest in its normal position shown in Figs. (3

and 7 with the end of the adjustable screw .55 which lies on the lower side of the itllil against the pin 58 which projects upward" from the upper side of the bracket 51.. f

It will be observed that when theblow of the arm 50 is delivered. the part of the rod below that struck is opposite a prolougw tion 580i the part l-l already referred to,

the outer edge of this part Ll sloping farther and farther outward from the axis of the structure 8 from its end 58 nearest the position IV toward the position I. This portion of the part 14 initially serves to prevent the detached portion 5 of the rod 1 iron: failing inward toward the structure 8: and as the structure 8 carries the rod 1 on around toward the position} the part 14- pushes it laterally out of the holding; nsane *3 and throws it clear of the structure 8 so that it may drop directly into the trough 10.

During the operations just described, the upper holding means; 3 has been closed, and it remains (-losod and-holds the upper part of the rod 1 until the portiitin 5 having]; the buttons (3 has been detached and the lower end o the upper portion has come over the part 3. About this time the part 41 is caused to swing back out of the way, Presently the holding means 3 opens, asabove described, and allows the rod 1 to drop on the part 13 again, and the cycle of operations upon it begins anew.

Having thus deseribed the action of the machine and its various parts upon the rods,

or supporting .tfranie 64:. A knob G10 spl-ined on the shaft 61 has engaging faces 620 which can be engaged with corresponding faces on the hub (300 of the pulley to cause the shaft 61 to revolve with the pulley and drive the machine or disengaged to allow the shaft 61 and the machine to come to rest by merely moving the knob ($10 endwiso. the inner end of the shaft (31 (as shown in Fig. t) a beveled pinion 65 which meshes.

with beveled gear i6 Fig. 13). This gear 66 revolver; in the direction indicated by the arrow, (Fig. 13) and about the lowr portion of a stationary sleeve (i? rnounted in a hollow boss 68 on, the base tiil ofth'eniachine, a ring or collar 70 being threaded on the lower end of the sleeve 67. The structure 8, which is mounted on the 1113mpor-' tion of the sleeve 6? ooaxially with the gear 66 and Tests on the upper endog tho liollov 68, is intermittently conne d'nvith the goar'fiil at suitable intervals so" as tb give the structure 8 a quarter turn and take one of the rods 1 out of the range or the heating means 9 after it has dweltthere a suflicient time and bring another .i' ocl into the position III to be heated. *From the gear 66 also, motion is transmitted for giving the heating means 9 the up and down and back and forth movement already referred to. The manner in which the continuously re- 'volving gear 66 is thus intermittently connected with the part or structure 8 will be soon from Figsi. l, 5, 9, 10 11 12, and 13. bore shown. the gear 66 carries movable engagement moans comprising a" rod or pin il which slides in a, bore in a, suitably formed portion 72ml? the web of gear 66 adjacent its hula-and actuated at the proper time tbrouglra rod or pin 73 in an adjacent bore, tliaioivrr ends of these pins '51 and T3 being secured together by a trans orse coupling piece or pin 74, and the pins keyed to lower 1%..

is acorn projection of circular form having inclined ends 81 and 82 and a substantially level intermediate portion. During the greater part of each revolution of the gear 66 the upper end of the rod 73 rides on this cam 80 'and the upper end of the rod or catch 71 is thus kept depressed below the lower side of the base 69, and the structure 8 is this disconnected from the gear 66 and at rest. lVhen, however, he rod 73 reaches the upwardly sloping end 81 of the cam 80, the'catch 71 is allowed to rise through a curved slot 83 in the base GE) which orerlaps the sloping cam portion 81.. By the time the catch 71 gets to about the position III (Fig. 11) it will have risen'far enough forfits flattened-end portion to. engage the fiat side of the onset tour catches 84: on the lower side of the structure 8 (Fig. 5 that happens to have been left in this position when the part or structure 8 came to rest after its last preceding movement (see Fig. 5), and the structure 8 will thus be put in motion and carried around with the gear 66.. Thiz, movement of the structure 8 will. conuntii theuppcr end of the rod 73 so hers the downwardly sloping cam porand the catch 71 is thus depressed gh to release the catch 84 With\ is engaged and allow the part 8 to rest again. Complete stoppage of the structure 8 niay be hastened by the employment of a. friction device such as will hereinafter be described and will be orranged to happenafter it has moved-one.

fourth of a complete revolution.- lhus the structure 8 will be revolved one quarter turn. during each complete revolution of the gear 66 and-will remain stationary during the remaining th" quarters of a revolution. The catches Ell 'i. advantageously not be in tegral with body of the structure 8. but will be ma separate indicated in Figs.

- 4 and I so that they 'may consist of material of suitable r earing properties and may be replaced fr time to time.

The cc" inst-ion and construction of the t of the structure 8 in which. the sleeve 8'? hasits bearing (as above described) will best beseen from Figs. 4, 5, 9, and 10. As here shown, the ve tical shields 22 which receive the heat of the flames by which the lower ends of the rods 1 are s0ftcned are secured by screws which pass through bridge pieces 91 (Fig. 1G) and enter-the intermediate portion 92 of the part 90. The ends of these bridge pieces 91 rest against outwardly projecting portions 9-3 of the part 90 so that the air has access behind the shields .22 'to cool-them. A circular flange 94 at the lower end of the part 90 has on its lower side. projections 95 which carry'thefour catches 84 already referred to. On the upper side of the flange 94' are protuberances 96 having in them vertical bores which extend clear through to the lower side of the flange ill and in which slide the parts 4 by which the buttons 6 at the lower ends of the rods 1 are formed. These parts i are ieldingly pressed downward by wire springs 97 secured to the upper side of the flange 94- by screws and c.\'- tending, through grooves or slots .in the protuberances 96 into holes in the parts i. a best shown in Figs. 5 and 10. \l'hilc the lower surface of the flange Ell as a whole is considcrabl above the upper side of the ba-e (39, it has at its outer edge a rim 98 the canr means in question comprises parts 101, 1052 and 103 of varying height which extend from the position HI more than thrceounrters of a complete circle around beyond the position 11. The part forming the highestportion of this cam means is the spring part l0! secured to the upper side of the part 101 and extending from a little beyond the position I nearly to the position H. The highest part of this spring is about level nnd rubs against the lower: surface of the flange 94:. thus forming the friction device above referred to by whichthestructure 8 is promptly brought to rest after it is disconnected from the continuously rotating gear 66. V fhen the lower partoi the spring 102. itis in its most: ele' vated position where its upper end receives the lower end of the corresponding rod 1 as this rod drops oft the lower end of the inclined. member 13, and the resiliency ot the spring 102 serves to cushion the snoclc of this impact and so protect the rod li rorn breakage. .Vhen. the lower end of the part 4 passes from the spring 102 on to the horizontal surf: e of the cam portion 103 about at the position 11; the downward feed of the rod 1 is so completed. When the lower end of the part at passes on beyond the position 11 and rides down and off the sloping end of the cam portion 183, the part t recodes from beneath the end of the rod 1 and i reaches the position of greatest depression which it continues to occupy until after the rod has been heated at the position 111.

subsequently descending so as to leave the discharged.

The elevation of the upper surface of the" cam portion 103 and the downward feed of the glass rod 1, which is controlled therebyf can be regulated by raising and-lowering this cam portion. As will be see from Figs.

11, 12, and 13, this cam portion 103 is attached to a plurality of pins l04 which slidein holes in the. base 69.; The middle pinis a screw between the-head of which. and the the rocker arm, and the forked ends of this rocker arm 106 bear on the two' outside pins 104 While its other end bears against the lower end of'the adjusting' screw 108 which extends to the upper side of.the base 69 andserves' as a con'venicntmeans for raising and lowerin'gthe cam portion 103. At the upper end of-the partz90 iSsecu-red a cylindrical-1y hollow frame-like structure 110 the lower end of. which fits about the cylindrical upper end ortio'n .111 of the part 90, and is secured y long screws 1-12 (Figs. 9 and 10) which extend upward from the; o in the portions 93 into threaded holesin the lower end of'the structure 110. The frame work 110 may in a general waybe. described webs 114 connecting them. The uprights 1 113 have a cross-section such that when strips 115 are secured to them by screws as shown'in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 14, and 15", grooves 116- areform'ed at their adjacent edges, these groovesextending clearfrom the upper side of'the intermediate portion- 92 of, the part 90 to the lower side ofa plate 117 screwed to the upper ends of the members 113'.as

2 shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. v

. The holding means 2 and, above referred to are mounted in the'grooves 116 v of the members 113' as well as the tubular guides or holders 7. The lowervh'olding means-2 are (as shown in Figs. 1, 2,4, and

5,) located just above the shields- 22. From Figs. 4, 5, and 14 it willwbe'seen that each of the holding. means 2 comprises a'fixed'" attached 'b' ,a ser eant fer. er portion 126 vei't ca y piv'ot'ed'at {127;in a: horizontal War sidb of the part 90- through holes as consisting of four upright members orposts 113 (see Figs. 6, 7,8,14'and 15) and 1 15, comprising a relativel' -gha'tllow is-mounted, between the heel of the rocker formed spider rod free to be broken off and ortion 6 and the opposite side of the xed jaw portion 121, this spring entering a recess 'in the part 121 and fitting over apin like" projection on the heel of the rocker j 126, so thatthe jaws constantly tend to close 7 and grip the rod A in. 130 extends through a holein the T-' ead 123 of the.- ,H

'. part 122 and'through a corresponding hole mi the lower web 114 ,ofthe structure 1109 75,

andon through a corresponding hole in the upper end portion 111' of the part- .to'the stationary 'sleeve 67. "The; outer end of this pin130 bears against the heel of the rocker 126, while its inner end-bears aiainst the 30 upper portion of the" sleeve 67.; will .be seen from Figsmi' and14, thereis a horizontal groove 131 in thefc lindri'cal part 67 and this groove exten approximately from the position-II around asttheu posi- 5 tionIII to the position IV. it will readily? .be seen that as'the structure 8 revoluesithe lower holding means 2 will bithe action of the cam. thus mvidedwnw e part 67 be 7 a caused to close andgripieachrod l after'oo it has left the position' lljgand" fed downward by its wb ightionto and with the descending part 4-; to remain closed until after the rod lhasipassedthrough the po-. sition III' and been heated; and then to op en about as the rod 1 the osition I reparatory to,- the breakl' o of the fims ed"spider rodjfi, as herel befored'e scribed. r v 4 As will be seen-from Figs. .1', 2, 3, .4, anduoo 5, the tubular guides 7 arein the construe-. tion shown secu'red above the upper holding ineii ns 3 by set screwsinarms 1,32 project-; mg outward from'the T-head3portions 123" associated with the upperhold1ng means 3,

so that the tubes' 7 follow the i1 ward and downward movement of the hol 'ing means.

3. The arts 41 are pivoted atthe lower sides of t e parts 122" so that they likewise a move up and down with the holding means 3. The holding means 3 com rise jaws 120* and 124' just like thosero theholdin means 2 above described and are actuated in a similar manner through ins 130 which extend from the heels oft erocker p0rtions'l26 of the 'aws through holesiin' 'the' parts123 d.

j adjacent. edges of the mem rs-113 intoia; groove 133',

in a relativ'el stationary 134' mounted in e cylindrical 'f the frame structurelllo (Figs. 4 mai5) This "groove. 133 "variesin depth asjshown 1'35 extendin from, a litt d'tothe ugh (if the-posltiorr around to about the positlonjlzfi .11 and a relatively deep portion aware ing from about the ,position- 11 around? nearly tothe position I. MB is by'the action' means 3 is caused to be open during its an inner portion secured together by a travel with the revolving structure 8 from set-screw list. By tigl toning screw M5 the position l to about the position 11 while threaded through a strong flange at the the rod 1 is teeding downward and to close upper end of the outer part Hi5 the. inner 5 and grip theirodl and remain closed durpart 1-1-3 can be made to grip the; threaded 7o ing the heating, squeezing, and breaking rod ill and prevent accidental movement operations which occur while it is travelof the out. To facilitate the adjustment of ing from about the position 11 on beyond the machine for spider rods different the position- IV. length, the lower end. of the part 33 which From Figs. 4: and it will further he carries the scratching and breaking means is 75 .Seen thatthe groove 133 in the cam 13 connected by a part 14:6 below the gear 6-6 does not lie at one level throughout its 211- with the lower end of a rod ll? which eX- tire extent, but comprises a higher portion tends down. from the part 1 3i through the which extends from about the position 11 hollow sleeve 67, so that when the height 15 around to the position III and lower porof the part 13% and the range of movement tion which extends from abou't the position of the holding means 3 and the parts 4-1 is III around past the position IV a little bech- -(f' the height the tchinn yond the positionl, these portions of the oe colrcspondl groovebeing connected by inclined portions e ia care l 4 as shown. By the action ofthe sides of the ening and tightening oi the screw lo. 85 groove on the inner ends of the pins 130 will now desci' ie how ll l .ting' devices each of the upper holding means 3 is caused 9 are mounted and also how they given to move downward as the rod 1 travels the mow-uncut heretofore referred to to in y from the position Ill toward the position sure the best results in the heating of the IV to squeeze the upper button 6 between it rods. 9i)

and the stationary holding means 2 and then The support gincans 25 by which the to rise again about at the position I after heating devices are carried is shown the formed spider rod 5 has been broken of? Figs. 1, 52, 3, 4, 5. and i3. and discharged, so as to be ready to take arin which is suppom. a fresh grip upon the rod 1 preparatory to beam 151 extending beneath the squeezing of another button. The inner supported fr n its lowe de o two downend 137 of each part all travels on the cywardly enter ing posts; The inner end 7 lindrical surface of the member 134 below of the arm 150 as sho n secured on a.

the groove 133 during the greater part of pin 1:33 which extends v each revolution of the structure-8, this bebore in the part 15 The ower end of this ally through a mg the way in which the part 41]. is held pin 153 engages one end of a lever 15-4: pivbackout of the Way; but about as the armoted at 155 between lugs 156 on the lower holding means 3 with which each part -11 side of the part 151 and the other end of is associated passes beyond the position 1V this lever 1' 4: engay the lower end of a 40 the inner end 137 enters a groove 138 sX- pin 15? which lides in bore in the part tending a short distance. around the circuin- 151., a sin l l s a l i 'n 158 in one side oi this )lll ference of the part 13%, so that the part i1 15? sliding in a groove in the part i331 and so is caused or allowed to swing outward keeping us pii 157 from turni In the against the rod 1 and assist in the scratchupper end or the pin 15'? is pivoted a roller 45 ing and breaking operations, as above de- 159 which e cs with a circular cani 160 scribed. secured on lower side oi? the gear 66 by To provide for variations in the spacing a. suitable number o SC] ws. 'lhe acting" of the upper and lower buttons and to erend or face i this it is a wavv out niit greater variations in the length of the line, as shown in J 1i and 5 so that as 50 completed spider rod than could be obtained the gear 66 revolves 't acts through the parts by merely varying the feed of the rod in just described to give the siuipori a conthe manner above described, the cam men tinual up and down not ii'ient. On the ber 134 is made vertically adjustable so as lower side of the gear 66 is als ..J.oi1nted to vary the height above the holding" means a rain 161. which shown in 55 2 at which the holding means 3 take hold around the cam 15 and.

upon the rod and the parts ll engage them screw; "This cani I l and also so allow the distance above the showninFig. 13. 'l'hecircur fereiice this. holding means 2 of the portion of the rod cam acts through a rol er 16? on one endol'" that is heated to be varied. As shown in a lever 163 pivoted at 3154. on the part 15]..

60 Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the adjustment is effected The other end. of this lever 1.63 is curved by revolving a nut which has a bearing and bears against a suitably shaped wearing on the part 117 at the top of the structure part 1.65 atone side of the arm 1500a which 110 and engages a threaded rod 141 which the supporting means 25 is mounted. (A extends upward from the member 131. This spring 166 is stretched between an erelGT 65 nut 140 consists of an outer portion 149 and on the part- 158 and a screw the we valves, etc ,(Figs. 1, 2,- 3, and i.)- lower heating means 21 comnrises two pairs machine, and tends to pull the part-lo the right (Figs. l. and 3.) As the gear 66- and vthe com 161 revolve:

therefore, the arin. 1-50 with the supporting means and both groups 20 and 21 of heats ing devices are continually swung back and "forth.

- The upper heating means 20 comprises a pair of burners 9 mounted opposite one an.

other on the brackets 23 above mentioned and su lied with gas and air througlrflexxble tu mg 170, piping 171, and Sllltflrillllfi of.burners 9 mounted opposite one another sothat their flames converge upon the lower end of the glass rod 1 exposed to them. .These burnerslf) are similarly mounted on a bracket 24, as above mentioned. Provision is made for vertical adjustment of the upper and lower sets of burners,both together and a with reference to one another. Ara-"shown in desired vertical positions on the parts 172- Fig. 4, the bracket 23 on which the heating device of the upper set 20 are csrriedslides on the 'rod 172 and is prevented from turn ing about it by a suitable key. The bracket 24 onwhich the lower set of heating devices are mounted is similarly slidable on a sleeve 173 and is kept from turning-about itby similar means. Screws lie-7i and 175 enable the brackets 23 and M to be secured at the r and 173, and another screw 17o enables the rod- 1172 to be secured in. its desired yerti'cal position in the part 173'. A screw 17} furniches a convenient means for bringing the 1172'to' the desired vertical adjustment lcspcct to the slfcei'e U3; and o pin 178 f (the middleof wi.

172 and sleeve 173 ing the portion of the rod between said hold-- ing means, means for causing said holding means to approach one another in the longi" tudinal direction of the rod so asto expand the heated portion and produce an enlargement of the rod, and means for cutting the rod between said holding means so as to in elude said enlargement in the portion de 00 too on to allow the'fecding of the rod and lgched 3h lies in a holein the '2. The combination of means for causing v a rod to be intermittently fed longitudinally a definite distance, holding means adapted to c o se and grin the rod after the feeding has telten place; means for. heating the rod 'OII OPPQSIlIB s des of sand holding means, means'itor exerting longitudinal press re for severing from the rest of the rod a definite lcn th including the enlargements thus forme 7 3. The combination of, a plurality of holding'meuns adapted to allow a glass rod to be fcd'through them lengthwise when open and to close and grip the rod, means for heating the portion of the rod between said holding means, means for bringing said holding means closer together to expand the heated portion of the rod into an enlargement, means for cutting the rod between said holding means todctach-the portion in which the enlargement has been formed, and means fordischarging the detached portion of the rod sidcwise from said holding means.

4. The combination of a rcvoluble structure adapted to carry a plurality of glass rods and comprising holding means for each rod through which it is fed lon 'itudinally a definite distance duringthe revtilution of the structure, heating means within the action of which each rod is brought during each revolution of the structure so as to be beated adjacent said holding means, means which by the rotation of the structure is caused to act lengthwise upon the rod where heated to expand it, and means brought into action by the rotation of the structure to detaclra portion of the rod including the en largcment thus produced.

5. The combination of a rotating structure carrying a plurality of holding means for each of a plurality of glass rods through which thc rods may feed lengthwise, means co-actilw with said holdin means to cause each rod to be fed lengthwise thcretlirough a definite distance during each revolution of tlie structure, heating means adapted to heat tbeportion of each rod between two of the holding means therefor and also its end por'- tion during the revolution of the structure, means brought into action by the revolution to cause the holding means for each rod to grip the same and to approach each other to expand. and enlarge theheatcd portion of, the rod between them, means for exerting, longitudinal pressure upon the heated end of the rod' to expand and-enlarge it, and means for subsequently detaching a definite length of the rod comprising the enlargements-lthus produced.-

6. The combination of-o rotating. structore carrying holding means for a plurality of glass rods through which they are fed longitudinally a definite distance during eiich rev olution. of the structure,' means for heating a portion of each rod intermediate two separate holding devices comprised in the holdins; means therefor and for heatingits end, I

relatively stationary means caused by the rotstlon olthe structure to act upon said holding moons to 'l'ptu andfclcse some and to move the holding devices for each rod in its longitudinal direction toward one another to expand and enlarge the heated por- "tion between them, means also actuated by a relatively stationary part for exerting longitudinal pressure upon the heated ends of the rods to enlarge them, and means for intermittently rotating said structure so as to cause each rod to dwell for a suitable length of time within the influence of said heating means and carry the rods through the opera tions described.

7. The combination of a structure mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and carrying jaws for holding a plurality of glass rods, there being for each rod a plurality of sets of such jaws arranged vertically one above another and relatively movable in a vertical direction through which the rod can be fed lengthwise by gravity when they are open, and the sets of jaws for each rod being opened to allow the rod to descend by grai ity a definite distance during a certain portion of each revolution of the structure and closing after its downward movement, a vertical movable part beneath each rod upon which it rests at the end'of its downward I for the portions between the sets of jaws and the'ends below the lower set of jaws to be heated, means which by thB'I'OtdtlOIl of said structure is caused to act upon said vertically movable part beneath the lower end of the rod to produce a downward movement thereof after the jaws have closed so as to leave the lower end of the rod exposed to the action of the heating means and to produce an upward movement thereof when the structure resumes its movement after the heating so as to expand and enlarge the lower end of the rod, means for also causing the sets of jaws'to come closer together after the heating to expand the heated portion of the rod between them and thereafter opening the lower set of jaws, means acting upon the rod during its subsequent travel with the structure to sever it between the sets of jaws and above the enlargement formed on it between them, and means for discharging the detached portion of the rod sidewise from the lower set of jaws.

8. The combination of a plurality of means for gripping a glass rod and holding the same in a substantially vertical position,

ALFRED LA FRANCE.

\Vitnesses:

HERMANN A. GREINER, ALVIN C. Snmmrr. 

